Seeing the words Volkswagen and Tavascan next to each other without any reference to Cupra is weird. However, you will have to get used to it, as the German automotive giant is preparing to launch the new electric crossover in China, where it won't be marketed as a Cupra. Instead, it will be known as the Volkswagen Tavascan.
The first spy shots of the car in prototype form date back to September, but more recently, we received a new batch of scoops in our inbox showing a different tester on German roads. And there are a few key differences compared to its Cupra sibling.
For one, the headlamps are new and might be linked together by a small light strip on the lower parts. The bumper was also changed with one that features redesigned vents. It also has a round logo (ahem, it is a VW) attached to its nose and an identical one on the tailgate. The car has new taillights, too, and the rear bumper and diffuser seem to soldier on unchanged.
We have yet to see the interior of the Volkswagen Tavascan, but hopefully, it won't venture far from the Cupra, with its "central spine" and large infotainment system measuring 15 inches diagonally. The Cupra Tavascan also gets a 5.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a flat-bottom steering wheel, ambient lighting, and the usual copper accents. Nonetheless, the latter might be dropped when it comes to the Chinese variant.
Photo: SH Proshots
Cupra's Tavascan is based on the VW Group's MEB platform, which underpins a generous variety of electric vehicles. It's used on the Audi Q4 e-tron, Q5 e-tron, Skoda Enyaq iV, Cupra Born, Tavascan, Ford Explorer EV, and the Volkswagen ID series. Speaking of which, the German car marque is already selling the ID.5 in the People's Republic, so it will be interesting to see where the Tavascan will sit in the range so as not to step on its toes. Chances are it could be marketed as a slightly more premium offering.
In Western markets, the Cupra-branded Tavascan comes with a 282 hp (286 ps/210 kW) motor driving the rear wheels in the base variant, with the upper spec using a pair of motors for a total of 335 hp (340 ps/250 kW). Both get the same 77 kWh battery pack. If we were to bet on it, we'd say the Volkswagen Tavascan might stick to this recipe in the Asian country, though we cannot be entirely certain of it either, as it could be slightly different from a mechanical perspective.
VW is likely to make its own version of the Tavascan at the same factory in Anhui, China, where the Cupra variant is put together, and should launch sometime next year.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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